Al Pacino is Satan, dark tempter from the netherworld, who on this occasion has surfaced as a high-powered lawyer.

He hires wholesome, young college boy Keanu Reeves as his junior apprentice. With Keanu literally playing 'the devil's advocate', the Dark One fights the age-old battle of good and evil in the human soul.

There's acres of beautifully crafted devilish dialogue from an on-form Pacino including a ground-shaking howl of protest by the Devil on what an unfair landowner God is.

"He has the sickest sense of humour in the world," Pacino wails. "It's look, but don't touch, all the way."

Big Al doesn't actually have much to do but swagger his way round making deliciously wicked speeches. But he can't half swagger.

Reeves too deserves some praise. It seems he worked out that the best plan was to play it admirably straight and reserved and let Pacino get on with the hamming.

It's a film with only two characters. If we were dealing with lesser actors, that might have been a weakness.

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